Skopje, 27 November 2025 (MIA) — Parliamentary Standing Inquiry Committee for the Protection of Civil Freedoms and Rights chairman and Levica MP Dimitar Apasiev has scheduled a committee session for Dec. 9 in response to a petition submitted by the parents bereaved by the March 16 fire in Kochani.

"This is in the highest public interest," Apasiev told a press conference Thursday, adding it was apt the Dec. 9 session would be held ahead of Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, considering that the bereaved parents in their petition had cited the right to life "as the highest right that was unprotected on the night of the tragedy."

According to Apasiev, the parliament speaker, deputy speakers, whips, the prime minister, the interior minister, the head of state as well as the petitioners have all been officially invited to take part in the session. 

This will be the first time the bereaved parents have been given a chance to speak before lawmakers, he said.

"An institutional barrier will be broken, which is that the parents of these children will finally have the right to address Parliament. This has been completely impossible for them so far," Apasiev said.

He recalled that Levica, as part of the opposition bloc, had moved a motion to establish a parliamentary committee of inquiry into the Kochani nightclub fire. However, he added, they were met with "closed doors and misunderstanding."

"I hope the government will now rise above itself, at least morally," he said, pointing out that he was looking forward to a productive discussion. 

"We will propose adopting legal amendments as well as pinpointing political responsibility," he said. 

Asked about whether Parliament had the right to determine political responsibility, Apasiev said the court would determine criminal responsibility for the tragedy but "Parliament always has the right to pinpoint political responsibility, which is exactly what we are trying to do." mr/